2nd Battalion Advance Continues

Monday 19th March 1917 from our correspondent in the field

The 2nd Battalion near Agny south-west of Arras advanced yesterday into trenches vacated by the enemy. Last evening they were ordered to see if the village of Mercatel was occupied, which it was. Patrols were again pushed into the village about 9 pm last night and found that the enemy patrols had withdrawn and that the enemy were now shelling the village.

About 2.30 this morning Second Lieutenant A F Aldridge with a platoon of C Company joined Second Lieutenant A W Joyce and they both pushed forward, Second Lieutenant Joyce with his platoon to the eastern edge of the village and Second Lieutenant Aldridge to the high ground shown on the map above in blue. About 7 am a German cavalry patrol of six men was fired on by Second Lieutenant Aldridge’s party, but no casualties were seen.

Second Lieutenant Aldridge [X550/1/81]

So far Mercatel and the high ground beyond had been taken by patrols. It was now time for a major advance. At 7.30 am orders were received for an advance on Mercatel in conjunction with 2/10th Battalion, London Regiment on our right and the 20th Battalion, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment on the left.

The Battalion was formed up ready for the attack, C and D Companies forming the attacking waves, A Company in support, and B Company in reserve in Malplaquet Trench and headquarters near the railway and le Chat Maigre (both also shown in blue).

The advance did not take place until 10.30, as the 2/10th London Regiment did not come up until then. Mercatel was reached without opposition and a little shelling. About 12 noon the leading Companies got as far as the high ground previously occupied by Second Lieutenant Aldridge and dug in here, as the Londoners had not come up on the right.

At 3.30 pm orders were given for C and D Companies to push on and dig in along their objective on the Beaurains to Boyelle Road which they did under considerable shell fire, as they were digging in full view of the enemy who were in Neuville Vitasse and the ridge south-east of it. On seeing our men advancing the 2/10th London Regiment advanced shortly after and joined up on the right along the Road. Touch was also at once gained with the 20th King’s (Liverpool) Regiment along the road on the left (shown in green on the map). This formed the main position and small posts were pushed out about 150 yards in front of it, forming an outpost line. By dusk the men were well dug in.

Source: X550/3/WD

8th Bedfords in the Trenches at Givenchy

Monday 4th December 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

In the last few days the adjutant of the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment has been keeping me informed about their situation at Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée. This evening he told me that just after dark the Battalion’s Lewis gunners caught an enemy working party in the open. As he remarked matter-of-factly: “Cries of pain denoting casualties were heard”. Earlier in the day a German was seen peering over the parapet. It was his last act as one of the Battalion snipers made sure.

Lieutenant L A L Fink

The 2nd Battalion are still at Berles-au-Bois to the north of the Somme battlefield, having relieved the 20th Battalion, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment this afternoon. The adjutant heard today that Second Lieutenant L A L Fink has been awarded the Military Cross(1)

Sources: X550/3/wd; X550/9/1

(1) Captain L A L Fink MC would be killed on 5th October 1917 and is buried at Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery

Second Bedfords' Officers Command Other Battalions

Lieutenant Mudford

Sunday 26th November 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

The adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, mentioned to me when I rode up to the rear areas at Berles-au-Bois today that they have temporarily lost three of their most experienced officers. 

Major J W H T Douglas

Lieutenant H E Mudford has proceeded on leave whilst Major J W H T Douglas has taken temporary command of 20th Battalion, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment and Captain R O Wynne temporary command of 17th Battalion of the Liverpools. 

Cptain R O Wynne

A Second Lieutenant (L A L Fink) has had to take over command of C Company.

Second Lieutenant Fink

Source: X550/3/wd

Day Thirty on the Somme

Sunday 30th July 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Today the attack on Guillemont, anticipated since 16th of this month, has got underway. This attack has been undertaken by 30th Division, including 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Having spoken with the Battalion’s adjutant it seems they were in reserve for the attack which was spear-headed by 19th and 20th Battalions, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment with 17th Liverpools in support. The attack was made in conjunction with an attack by the French, 30th Division being the most right-hand units of the British Expeditionary Force in France. A Company of the Bedfords, however, was part of the assaulting troops. As well as the attack on the village, 89th Brigade of 30th Division attacked Falfemont Farm, south-east of the village. On the other side of 90th Brigade Guillemont station and trenches north-west of the village were attacked by 5th Brigade of 2nd Division.

The attack began at 4.45 am and A Company, under Lieutenant White, operating with the French 153rd Regiment on its right flank it advanced north and seized Maltz Horn Farm(1) without opposition. This place was taken on 8th July but subsequently abandoned. There is a rumour that Lieutenant White and his French counterpart advanced arm-in-arm for part of the way, though I have not been able to verify this. The attack was a brilliant success, from seventy to eighty Germans being killed in the Maltz Horn Trench in front of the farm and one prisoner taken. The farm was found to be unoccupied. Once the position was taken the company rejoined the rest of the battalion in reserve and the farm was abandoned. The company lost about thirty men killed and wounded in this small operation, including Lieutenant H C Lovely, who was wounded.

Lieutenant Lovely

The main attack by the Liverpools was greatly hampered by a German bombardment last night and a dense fog this morning and about 6.30 am reinforcements were called for. B and C Companies of the Bedfords, accordingly moved out, but the Commanding Officer of 17th Liverpools stopped them from going too far as he had no word from his fellow commanders of the two assaulting battalions as to where exactly the support was needed. So the two companies stayed at the 17th Liverpools’ headquarters. Fifteen minutes later Lieutenant H A Chamen was seriously wounded(2).

Lieutenant Chamen

At 9 o’clock Lieutenant J T Coe and Lieutenant A L Gordon were both wounded and an hour later Lieutenant White again led A Company off to get back in contact with the French. Their attack had also been held up and they were digging in, so A Company dug in on their flank, just south of Maltz Horn Farm. Second Lieutenant F A Sloan was wounded just before midday.

Second Lieutenant Sloan

About 1.30 this afternoon it became clear that the attack on Guillemont had stalled and the Bedfords were ordered to consolidate a line along the low ridge from a small wood called Arrowhead Copse, just short of Guillemont, east to the French left wing. This they did, digging a new trench about 300 yards long. It is anticipated that the battalion will be relieved tonight, having suffered 6 officers and 186 other ranks dead and wounded.

I have just heard that this morning’s attack succeeded in entering Guillemont. However, due to the inability to communicate due to fog and telephone wires being cut Major-General Shea commanding the division took the decision to consolidate the line from the west side of Guillemont south-west to Maltz Horn Farm rather than losing what had been gained to any German counter-attack. The attack by 2nd Division on the north-west of Guillemont was a complete failure. The final line now extends from Maltz Horn Farm, to the road running south from Guillemont to Hardecourt, then north-west to Arrowhead Copse.

To assist the attack on Guillemont subsidiary attacks were made to the north-west at Longueval and Delville Wood again. This attack was confused and extremely costly and seems to have gained little or nothing. The fighting in this area may be described, not melodramatically, as a blood-bath and one of the Battalions of 5th Division is reported to have been reduced from 1,000 at full strength to just 175.

Source: X550/3/wd

(1) The proper name was Maltzkorn Farm after its founder, an 18th century German called Paul Maltzkorn. Today the farm buildings are long gone but a large crucifix stands on the site.

(2) Aged 22, he died on 1st August and is buried at Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension.

Thinning Out the Ranks

Wednesday 28th June 1916: As the bombardment of the German lines continues on the Somme, the adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, at Maricourt, reports that the Germans have been replying powerfully, bombarding our front lines. So effective has this German barrage been that two companies of the Bedfords have been withdrawn to allow the 17th and 20th Battalions, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment to thin out their ranks. They were crowded together in the front line ready to advance at the moment decided by high command but the heavy German shelling wounded 120 of them during the night and early morning. To judge by this it seems as if the 2nd Battalion will not be one of those units making the initial assault but will, rather be in support, which should lessen the number of casualties suffered.

Source: X550/3/wd